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Animal Biosciences

Ball and Chain for Mink

In an international mink behaviour study released by the University of Guelph press yesterday, Dr. Georgia Mason's lab shows how ball and chain toys can be used to increase fertility in mink. Despite the popular feeling of entrapment that most of us get from the visualization of the 'ball and chain' concept, female mink benefit from increased mental well-being and fertility when offered an environmental enrichment device such as a ball or chain as something to play with. This toy can help to reduce boredom and act to stimulate the mink in an otherwise barren environment. This simple, inexpensive enrichment device can translate directly into increased profits for farmers, which makes a very compelling argument for producers, in favour of animal welfare and environmental enrichment for livestock.